“Dad gave me this sword,” she continued, reaching up to rub the red blade. “He said it was strong, and it was connected to me, but he’d never tell me anything else about her. Mortem is no ordinary blade, she hums with energy. I believe it’s Walker.”
Well, that was interesting. “Maybe your father wasn’t unaware. Maybe your mother was already pregnant when he met her and he didn’t care. There are plenty of scenarios, Eva. But really the most important part you already know. Your Dad raised you as his own; loved you as his own. He’s your father. No matter who actually donated the sperm.”
She snorted through her wash of tears. “I like you. You’re a pretty cool chick and I don’t trust many … but I think we could be friends.”
I reached forward and captured her hand in mine. “I’m really sorry about your family. If you ever want to talk to me about what happened, I’m always here to listen.”
She sighed, but didn’t pull away from my grip. “I don’t think I’m ready for that. I might never be ready. But I’m okay with being part of the half-Walker family. I understand that the mission might be dangerous. I know you said we could all die. But I’m the sort of person who would rather fight to the end than stand around and let the assholes win. I know now the only reason I survived … that night … was because I’m not human. I couldn’t save my family, but I can try my best to save the rest of the world.”
The silence between us was sort of comfortable now.
“We should get back to the docks,” I said, letting go of her hand.
She nodded and wiped away the last of the moisture beneath her eyes.
We moved back together, our pace just short of a run. As soon as I was back with the main group, I headed toward Chrissie. She was near the front of the jetty, with some of the other females.
All of them still had their gazes firmly locked on the approaching boats. The coastguards were still yelling and issuing stern commands into their little comms, preparing for whatever drama this rush of unauthorized boats was bringing. Our group of misplaced females had been long forgotten and now was the time for us to get them out of sight and secured away. First though, I was going to do a little digging.
Chrissie noticed me then, and she reached across and linked her arm though mine. “I’m really sorry I hit you, Abby. It was a bitchface move and I totally owe you a freebie.”
I squeezed her arm. “No, you don’t. I understand your anger and pain. It’s all forgiven.”
No one seemed to be paying attention to us. Still I lowered my voice and shifted my face even closer. “We have to leave soon, and Eva is coming with us. But I do want to make sure you and the girls are safe. Any news on the boats?”
Chrissie’s sharp eyes flickered once behind us before coming back to me. “They’re raising the white flag, and I glimpsed a few people on one. No tatts, so I think we have rebels here. Not gangers.”
That was great.
“Be careful with Eva,” she said out of nowhere.
I raised my brows and she took the hint to continue.
“I don’t know what her story is; she never opened up to any of us. She just appeared one night in the alley where I was camped out. Sword on her back and something dead in her eyes. I’ve seen more than one girl come to me like that. The only thing I do know is that her family is gone. She has a bit of a death wish herself, and she’s a great fighter. One of the best I’ve ever seen.”
Of course she was: she had Walker genetics.
“And her sword is sort of special. I swear I’ve seen it glow before.”
Eva had said the sword was extraordinary. If we discovered its origins, we might find out who her Walker father was. Something for another time. A time when we weren’t in a life-and-death battle.
“She’s a good person, Abbs.” Chrissie drew my attention again. “She never leaves a girl behind. You can trust her to have your back, but she doesn’t allow herself to be close to anyone. I never pushed because I’m the same way. We all have our demons. Our secrets. The reason many of the vigiladies stay with me is I offer them a way to fit in, but still keep their secrets. Plus we like to kick ganger ass.”
I grinned. “If Luce and I had of stayed on Earth, we’d have totally been in your vigiladies.”
A chuckle escaped her.
“But we would have required a mask.” Isn’t it some sort of unwritten rule: superheroes need masks?
Chrissie’s chuckles turned into laughter then, not big belly laughs or anything, but more happiness than I’d seen from her in a long time. I joined her, even though we were drawing more than a few strange looks. As the hilarity of the situation died off, my gaze returned to the boats. They looked closer. They had slowed as they approached the docks but were definitely still coming in.
“We need to leave now,” I said to Chrissie. “Take the girls and find somewhere to hole up with them until you can assess what the fallout from New York is going to be.”